I have my local set of public twisties like everyone else and I need help in improving my
knowledge of how to ride them. Is Keith Code the book to go for? Other suggestions?

Thanks ahead.

Yup. I really recommend going to the track or taking an Advanced Rider Training course to really teach you cornering. If you are pushing your limits on the street away from a proper teacher/coach you will be making mistakes and not be even aware of them. If anything unexpected happens on the street you will not be prepared to react properly to them.

When I started to ride hard I made the mistake of trying to do it on the street and paid some hefty medical bills because I did not have any idea what I was doing despite having watched and read all the material.

Thanks for the response. I will do those things but trying to get some theory
right now.

I like the book, "You take the high side and I'll take the low side". Just kidding, Twist of the wrist is a nice read.

Thanks!

I've only read the Lee Parks book. it's good for picking up theory. The description of apexing is clear and the info on how your suspension, brakes and throttle affect your steering is also good. This is all good stuff to be aware of on the street but to really experience it to the point that you are feeling it, you need to be able to do it over and over with minimal interuptions and distractions. A track is the only environment where you can do that. i think learning your favorite corners on the street is of value too but it's a lot more dangerous. For myself, I feel I'd have to be crazy to try the things on the street i did on the track with relative ease. You will be surprised at how good you are if you get on a track. Costs big money and is addictive though.

The Keith Code DVD is on youtube in segments. Very good course on how to improve your cornering. Its dated as far as "acting" and dialog, but the rules and lessons are as vaild and useful as ever.

The best way to improve your cornering skills are obviously at a track, as has been said. $$$$$$ but its so beneficial and so much fun. Fun you'll never have on a street without the risk of pressing it on the street. Track days are the way to go and after the very first track day, you'll see what all the fuss is about.

But keep in mind the 14 is a big heavy bike, so always be aware of just how much weight you are dealing with.

* Last updated by: ZX14MAN64 on 8/1/2016 @ 8:30 PM *

+1 on the Code Vid's, I bought them cheap somewhere so I can view them when I feel like it.

But keep in mind the 14 is a big heavy bike, so always be aware of just how much weight you are dealing with.

..and a buttload of power. That can get you in over your head pretty easy too. Probably most of the track bikes you will run with in the beginner class will be slow compared to your 14. Try not to get too cocky because some of them are probably going to hate you. It's unfortunate but many track riders think you are slowing them down in the corners. My recomendation is to be mindful of that but don't let it stop you from getting your money's worth out of the event. Not many people in the beginner group can ride all that well so if you have average to slightly better than average skills on the street, you probably corner every bit as fast on your 14 as they can.

I need help in improving my
knowledge of how to ride them.

Pirelli tires are really awesome for sport riding. 190/55 Diablo Supercorsa highly recomended. 200/55 Diablo Superbike Pro slicks even more so. <<warm roads, perfectly safe w/out tire warmers as long as roads are dry and relatively clean. Run 35 psi front and rear. I went a lot lower and they still felt solid but hate the sluggish feel of low psi when taking off. NOt street legal so watch it if you have wary police. Both of these tires will wear out fast, too. I think I got 4000 out of the Supercorsa which is less than half of what I'm used to getting.

Also practice weaving as hard as you safely can at legal speed limit. great way to practice turn in. also keeps those tires round and gets them nice and warm.

just my 02 on the Superbike Pro slicks. many MANY others will advise you to never use slicks on the street. The Pros are made for cold track / extended use / no tire warmers though --so seem a good choice if you want slicks for street use.

My 2 cents on the zx14 track days; if you have options go for a big longer high speed track with big sweepers and try to avoid small tight low speed tracks. You will have much more fun on the big high speed than the tight lower speed tracks and the 600's wont be kicking your ass.

* Last updated by: cruderudy on 8/2/2016 @ 9:46 PM *

Pirelli tires are really awesome for sport riding. 190/55 Diablo Supercorsa highly recomended. 200/55 Diablo Superbike Pro slicks even more so. <<warm roads, perfectly safe w/out tire warmers as long as roads are dry and relatively clean. Run 35 psi front and rear. I went a lot lower and they still felt solid but hate the sluggish feel of low psi when taking off. NOt street legal so watch it if you have wary police. Both of these tires will wear out fast, too. I think I got 4000 out of the Supercorsa which is less than half of what I'm used to getting.
Also practice weaving as hard as you safely can at legal speed limit. great way to practice turn in. also keeps those tires round and gets them nice and warm.

A couple things...

The Pirelli Sport line works as follows:
Superbike Slick - Race only slick, multiple compounds.
Supercorsa SC - Race only DOT, multiple compounds.
Superbike Pro Slick - Trackday only slick, no warmers needed. This tire has been discontinued.
Supercorsa SP - Highest performance street tire. Same compound as Superbike Pro, but DOT approved.
Diablo Rosso Corsa - Dual compound street tire. Harder center than the Supercorsa SP, same compound at shoulders.

For the OP's uses, slicks of any sort or DOT race tires are completely pointless. The Diablo Rosso Corsa will be more than sufficient. It will far outlast the Supercorsa SP or Superbike Pro Slick while providing nearly identical levels of grip. Both come in 200/55 flavors.

As for weaving... you're not driving a car. Cars have the ability to flex their sidewalls laterally which warms the tire carcass up. Motorcycles, on the other hand, achieve sidewall flex through heavy braking and acceleration forces. And since no one believes me around here, read this article yourself.

^^you are probably right about the warming but I have never kept tires so round since I started weaving and this was on the supercorsa and the superbike Pro which I would expect to square off easier than any other tire I've used.

Superbike Pro Slick - Trackday only slick, no warmers needed. This tire has been discontinued.

hell you say??? If I had the $$$ i'd be buying up what's still out there.

And since no one believes me around here

At least one does ... no whining please

At least one does ... no whining please

No whining here. Just saving myself some trouble by quoting an easy source for all the squiddies to read.

Already I discount a bit of what was said in that article. BOTH sets of the Pirelli Angel GT's I mounted were slippery when new. I'm talking just turning a corner VERY gently and having the tire slip. I almost lost the rear when this happened the second time. The corner was clean, and I was within the first 2 miles of mounting the wheels with new tires. Until I had at least 50-75 miles on the new tires they were not as grippy as the ones I took off. So, mold release compound or not - be careful and ride gingerly until they get some miles on them. It still makes a difference.

As for not weaving to generate heat, I still see plenty of pro riders doing it... including some in each of the moto gp classes. Whether its psychological or whether they actually get some heat in the tires, I cant say. I'm sure the engineers do see the data, but I still like to do it a tiny bit before hitting some corners. If nothing else, it gets that part of the tire on the road and may clean any dust (or whatever) off the tire as its making contact. Plus it helps reduce the tire being from being "squared", which helps prolong its useable life to me. Anytime I'm not around other cars, I like to weave back and forth in my lane to keep the tire rounder. Also I don't get bored in the straight sections of road.

You do you, boo.

Sounds like a lot of whining in here.

Take an advanced rider training course. You will get to know your bike a lot better.

I'm probably in the minority here but I've never really liked Code's books or his approach. My favorite book for racing/ riding techniques is Kenny Roberts "The Art and Science of Motorcycle Roadracing"
But books are not enough. Track time is the best way to improve. And the streets are really NOT the place to perfect going fast.

Mad